George Russell has claimed that Lando Norris has the car to win every race this season and said McLaren’s advantage is even bigger than that which Red Bull enjoyed.
Norris cemented his status as the favourite to land his maiden world championship with a statement victory at last weekend’s rain-hit Australian Grand Prix.
By the time the second safety car was introduced on lap 34 in Melbourne, after Fernando Alonso crashed out, Norris was 18 seconds clear of the third-placed Verstappen and more than half-a-minute in front of Russell, who was running in fourth.
He arrives in Shanghai leading the drivers’ standings for the first time – ending Verstappen’s 63-race streak at the summit – and the 25-year-old conceded in the aftermath of the opening round that he now has to be considered the title favourite given the early advantage his McLaren team holds.
But asked whether his mindset has changed, Norris said: “It makes no difference for me at the minute. I’m not thinking about it. I don’t really care about it.
It shouldn’t change anything I do, it shouldn’t change what the team do. I had one good weekend. People need to calm down a little bit.
“I know I stay focused and I try and do the same here this weekend, but I probably won’t even think of the championship until at least halfway through the year.”
